EDEN PRAIRIE | MINNETONKA | HOPKINS | ST. LOUIS PARK |

SOUTHWEST LRT (METRO GREEN LINE EXTENSION) Guide to the Supplemental Draft EIS

The Southwest Light Rail Transit Supplemental Contents Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a supplement to the Southwest Transitway Draft About the Southwest LRT Project...... 2 EIS. This guide is intended to help locate infor- About the Supplemental Draft EIS ...... 4 mation and submit comments on the Supplemen- The Design Adjustment Process...... 4 tal Draft EIS. potential impacts of design adjustments Eden Prairie Segment...... 6 In response to public comments received on the Southwest Transitway Draft EIS, the Metropolitan Operations & Maintenance Facility...... 8 Council made changes to the proposed design of the St. Louis Park/Minneapolis Segment...... 10 Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project. The Supple- mental Draft EIS analyzes the potential adverse impacts how to review and comment of those changes. Commenting on the Supplemental Draft EIS. . . 17 Hearings on the Supplemental Draft EIS. . . . . 18 This guide does not attempt to summarize every po- tential impact discussed in the Supplemental Draft EIS. additional information Instead, it highlights key changes to the Project that Locally Requested Capital Investments. . . . . 19 could result in new adverse impacts since the publica- tion of the Draft EIS. The Metropolitan Council will hold public hearings on The Executive Summary of the Supplemental Draft EIS the Supplemental Draft EIS in June 2015. See page 18 provides additional information that can help you locate for hearing dates and locations. information and understand the potential impacts dis- cussed in the Supplemental Draft EIS. If you have questions about the Southwest LRT Project or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the The public is encouraged to review and comment on Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), or if you the Supplemental Draft EIS during the public comment need assistance accessing the Supplemental Draft EIS, period, from May 22 to July 21, 2015. The Supple- please contact the Southwest LRT Community Outreach mental Draft EIS and the Draft EIS are available on the Coordinator for your area listed on page 19. Southwest LRT Project website, www.swlrt.org, and the Supplemental Draft EIS is available in printed form at This guide is intended for informational purposes multiple locations in communities along the proposed only. Comments may only be made on the LRT route during the public comment period. See page Supplemental Draft EIS, not this Guide. In the 17 for more information on obtaining a copy of the case of any differences between this guide and the Supplemental Draft EIS and submitting comments. Supplemental Draft EIS, rely upon the Supplemental Draft EIS as the official analysis.

1 06/2015 ABOUT THE SOUTHWEST LRT PROJECT

The Southwest Light Rail Transit Project (METRO employment centers like the Golden Triangle in Eden Green Line Extension) is a proposed transit line Prairie. that would operate from downtown Minneapolis Hennepin County and the cities of Eden Prairie, Min- through the communities of St. Louis Park, netonka, Hopkins, St. Louis Park and Minneapolis are participating agencies in the Southwest LRT Project. Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie, passing in close proximity to Edina. The total cost of designing and building the Southwest LRT Project would be approximately $1.65 billion dol- The proposed alignment would include 17 new sta- lars.* Funding would come from several sources. tions and approximately 16 miles of double track. The line would connect major activity centers in the region The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) would provide including downtown Minneapolis, the Opus/Golden Tri- half of the required funding, approximately $827 mil- angle employment area in Minnetonka and Eden Prairie, lion. The Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, the Eden Prairie would provide approximately 30 percent of the required Center Mall, and the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. funding, or approximately $496 million. The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) and the Southwest LRT would be an extension of the METRO State of Minnesota would each provide approximately Green Line (Central Corridor LRT), providing a one-seat 10 percent of the total, or $165 million dollars. ride to destinations such as the University of Minne- sota, state Capitol and downtown St. Paul. It would be The Metropolitan Council is the local lead agency for part of an integrated system of transitways, including the Southwest LRT Project and the grantee of federal connections to the METRO Blue Line, the Northstar funds. The FTA is the federal lead agency. The U.S. line, major bus routes, and proposed Army Corps of Engineers is a cooperating agency for future transitways and rail lines. Local bus routes near the Supplemental Draft EIS because of its responsibil- the proposed LRT alignment would be reconfigured to ity for implementing federal environmental regulations. connect stations with nearby residential, commercial and HCRRA served as the local lead agency during the de- educational destinations. velopment of the Draft EIS and public comment period, which ended in December 2012. The area where the Southwest LRT line would operate, known as the Southwest Corridor, includes major region- al employment centers and growing residential commu- nities. Travel on roadways in this area has increased over the past 25 years.

The Metropolitan Council’s regional forecast indicates that population and employment in the Southwest Cor- ridor will continue to grow, causing traffic congestion to * On April 27, 2015, the Council released a revised project cost increase further. estimate of approximately $1.994 billion – an approximately $341 million increase over the year-of-expenditure budget. The proposed Southwest LRT line would add a reliable The additional costs are primarily related to poor ground transit option that connects people with jobs throughout conditions along the Southwest LRT line, soil contamination the Southwest Corridor. Light rail service would benefit in St. Louis Park and Hopkins, project delays due to additional studies, and property acquisitions and relocations. The funding “reverse commute” workers who live in Minneapolis strategy discussed in Chapter 5 of the Supplemental Draft EIS or St. Paul and travel to work in Southwest Corridor remains under discussion for the additional costs.

2 GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS The Southwest LRT Corridor and Supplemental Draft EIS Study Areas

LEGEND

City Boundary

Existing Freight Rail 47

M

i s

Proposed Southwest LRT 52 s

i s

Plymouth s Existing LRT Station i p p i ProposedUnion LRT Pacific Station RR R ive r (P&R) Park-and-Ride Lot Golden Valley Target Field Supplemental Draft EIS 55 Station Royalston Study Area (Existing) Station 7th St S Proposed Hopkins Operation 10th St S 394 Wayzata and Blvd Maintenance Facility (OMF) Van White Station ( Penn I Station Cedar 0 0.75 1.5 Lake 21st Street ) Station

Mile ) A

P R Lake of

R Minneapolis C

( C

the Isles ) r (H

SF u ivision (BN r

d p ub do

Way S S ri West Lake zata Cor St. Louis Park rth Station S lwo & ni Lake N Ke Beltline M Station (P&R) Calhoun Wooddale Station Louisiana Hopkins Station (P&R) St. Louis Park/Minneapolis Minnetonka Segment Shady Oak Bass LakeBlake Spur (CP) Station (P&R) Station (P&R) Lake 7 Harriet Downtown Hopkins 35 Hopkins OMF Station (P&R) M in e

h a h a C k re e

Opus Ni ne Station (P&R) M 121 i City West le C Crosstown Hwy Station (P&R) re ek 62 Edina Bryant Lake Golden Triangle Station (P&R)

Southwest Mitchell Station (P&R) Station (P&R) 494 5 Eden Prairie Town Center Station (P&R)

Eden Prairie Segment Eden Prairie

P y Cr u tor ee 169 rga k

Flying Cloud Dr

GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS 3

PLN_AndersonEngineering_SWLRT_OverallAlignment_8x11_Rev00_00_20131016 ABOUT THE SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS

The Supplemental Draft EIS examines three areas stations; potential effects of changes in freight rail op- along the proposed Southwest LRT alignment erations. where new adverse environmental impacts Transportation effects: Planned changes in public tran- could occur due to design adjustments since the sit service; impacts on private vehicle traffic, freight rail service, bicycle and pedestrian networks, and parking; publication of the Draft EIS. safety and security.

A Supplemental Draft EIS is needed because the Fed- Environmental Justice compliance: The Environmental eral Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan Justice analysis looks at the project’s potential effects on Council determined that design adjustments made to minority and low-income populations. the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) after publication of the Draft EIS could result in new adverse environmen- Draft Section 4(f) evaluation: Documentation of the tal impacts that were not identified in the Draft EIS. project’s activities under the requirements of Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, a federal law that protects publicly owned parks, recre- Topics in the Supplemental Draft EIS ation areas and wildlife refuges as well as publicly and Purpose and need: Reasons for constructing the privately owned historic properties. Southwest LRT project, including improving access and mobility, providing a cost-effective transit option and Public and agency coordination: An overview of coor- extending the region’s transitway network. dination between public agencies involved in the proj- ect; the project’s advisory committees; required permits; Project overview: The route, stations and operation of public meetings, events and outreach activities since the the proposed Southwest LRT project. publication of the Draft EIS.

Design adjustments following the Draft EIS: Potential Next steps and funding: Project milestones anticipated design adjustments considered by the Metropolitan after publication of the Supplemental Draft EIS; sources Council in response to comments on the Draft EIS; the of funding for construction and operation of the South- process used to evaluate potential design adjustments; west LRT project. description of design adjustments evaluated in the Supplemental Draft EIS. Appendices: Several appendices to the Supplemental Draft EIS provide additional information, including: Social effects: Land use changes; property acquisition • and displacement of residences and businesses; cultural Lists of supporting documents and technical reports • resources such as historic buildings; effects on park- Agency correspondence • lands, recreation areas and open spaces; visual quality Development and evaluation of design adjustments and aesthetics. since publication of the Draft EIS • Supplemental Draft EIS conceptual engineering Environmental effects: Potential impacts on the natural drawings • environment including noise and vibration; geology and Noise and vibration memoranda • groundwater; wetlands and floodplains; hazardous and Response to comments on Supplemental Draft EIS contaminated materials. scope • Lists of preparers and recipients • Economic effects:  Local economic impacts based on Lists of sources and references • the cost of building and operating the project; potential Public notices • commercial and residential development near proposed Draft Section 4(f) Update supporting documentation • Visual resources technical report

4 GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS The Design Adjustment Process Comments on Draft EIS The process of developing the design adjust-

ments that are analyzed in the Supplemental Develop potential design adjustments to the LPA to: • Address comments on Draft EIS Draft EIS began with public comments re- • Reduce costs • Avoid or minimize impacts ceived on the Southwest Transitway Draft EIS • Increase effectiveness (i.e. ridership) in 2012. • Evaluation criteria/measures • Public and agency comment The Southwest Transitway Draft EIS evaluated several • Committee recommendations options for improving transit service in the Southwest Corridor area and identified light rail along a route Narrow the range of potential designated as “LRT 3A” as the Locally Preferred design adjustments Alternative (LPA).

• Evaluation criteria/measures Publication of the Draft EIS was followed by a public • Public and agency comment • Committee recommendations comment period including public hearings. Local governments, public agencies, businesses, organiza- Metropolitan Council tions and individuals submitted comments on the action in April/July 2014: Draft EIS. Copies of all comments received on the • Design Adjustments • Freight rail modifications Draft EIS are available on the Southwest LRT website.

Project staff worked with local governments and other project partners to develop potential design Supplemental Draft EIS adjustments that addressed comments on the Draft EIS. The diagram above shows the steps in the design adjustment process. Some of these potential adjustments were incorpo- rated into the proposed project scope and budget More information about the specific processes used adopted by the Council in April and July 2014. to develop design adjustments in each of the Sup- plemental Draft EIS areas is included in Chapter 2 of the Supplemental Draft EIS.

GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS 5 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN EACH STUDY AREA The following pages summarize potential environmental impacts in the three areas studied in the Supplemental Draft EIS: portions of Eden Prairie; the proposed Operations and Maintenance Facility in Hopkins; and portions of St. Louis Park and Minneapolis.

EDEN PRAIRIE SEGMENT

The Eden Prairie segment extends from near the WATER RESOURCES intersection of Technology Drive and Mitchell Approximately 4.7 acres of wetlands would be per- manently filled in this segment, and 13.4 acres of fill Road to near the intersection of Flying Cloud would be placed within a floodplain. The Council would Drive and Valley View Road. develop a Compensatory Mitigation Plan to address wetlands and floodplain loss. A new light rail crossing In this segment, the LRT route was adjusted to run south over Purgatory Creek is proposed. of the route that was studied in the Draft EIS, and the • locations of two stations were changed. The purpose of Section 3.2.2.2, “Water Resources” these adjustments is to provide better connections to local activity centers including the Eden Prairie mu- HAZARDOUS AND CONTAMINATED MATERIALS nicipal offices and the Eden Prairie Center Mall. The If permanent pumping of groundwater is necessary, Supplemental Draft EIS analyzes potential impacts as- contaminated groundwater could be encountered and sociated with the adjusted route and station locations. enter the pumping system. Six potentially contaminated sites have been identified that could affect the Project Section 2.3.1 of the Supplemental Draft EIS summarizes during construction. Cleanup of contamination would the design adjustments that were evaluated in the Eden begin before construction or when construction starts. Prairie segment, and describes how these adjustments • were evaluated. Section 3.2.2.5, “Hazardous and Contaminated Ma- terials”

LAND USE, ACQUISITIONS AND DISPLACEMENTS NOISE AND VIBRATION The project is compatible with land use plans adopted Two hotels in the Eden Prairie segment will experience by Eden Prairie and with existing land use in the area. noise impacts. No long-term vibration impacts were Approximately 22.3 acres of land would be converted identified in Eden Prairie. Potential impacts at the Op- to public transportation related uses in this segment, tum facility on Technology Drive will be assessed in the including the acquisition of two complete parcels and Final EIS. portions of 33 others. Up to nine businesses may be • required to relocate. Property acquisition would reduce Section 3.2.2.3, “Noise” • the city’s annual property tax revenues by approximately Section 3.2.2.4, “Vibration” $34,600. Construction may cause temporary changes to property access. GEOLOGY AND GROUNDWATER Peats and fat clays west of the proposed Eden Prairie • Section 3.2.1.1, “Land Use” Town Center Station, near the proposed Southwest Sta- • Section 3.2.1.2, “Acquisitions and Displacements” tion, and along the alignment between the Southwest Station and the Mitchell Station would require remedia- tion such as soil replacement and pile foundations.

• Section 3.2.2.1, “Geology and Groundwater”

6 GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS Overview of the Eden Prairie Segment

LEGEND

Parklands, Recreation Areas, and Bryant Lake Open Spaces Proposed Southwest LRT Abandoned RR Proposed Elevated Southwest LRT Location 212 Proposed LRT Station Round Lake Proposed Roadway, Bicycle/ Pedestrian, and Parking Modifications East Limit Proposed At-Grade LRT Crossing Proposed Grade-Separated LRT

Crossing Valley View Rd Eden Prairie Segment Limits

(P&R) Park-and-Ride Lot 494 Valley View Rd

I

0 750 1,500 P u r Feet g 5 a 212 to ry C Lake Smetana r eek Eden Prairie Technology Drive

Southwest Lake Station Idlewild (P&R) Eden Prairie Town Center Station 5 Mitchell (P&R) 494 Station (P&R) echnolog P T y D ra riv ir e ie C

e Prairie Center Dr. n t e

r

D

r

i NW v West Limit e Anderson Flying Cloud Dr. Lake

Purgatory Creek Reservoir

PARKLANDS, RECREATION AREAS AND OPEN would be added along Technology Drive connecting SPACES West Mitchell Road to Mitchell Station. Visitors to Purgatory Creek Park, located south of the • light rail alignment within walking distance of the pro- Section 3.2.4.4, “Bicycle and Pedestrian” posed Southwest Station, would be able to see light rail trains and structures from within the park. Existing bi- VISUAL QUALITY AND AESTHETICS cycle, pedestrian and vehicular access to the park would The Supplemental Draft EIS analyzes visual impacts at be maintained. During construction, access to the park 10 key viewpoints within the Eden Prairie segment using would be temporarily restricted. the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) system for assessing visual impacts. The Southwest LRT Project • Section 3.2.1.4, “Parklands, Recreation Areas and would have a “substantial” visual impact at two view- Open Space” points and a “not substantial” impact at eight others.

TRAILS AND SIDEWALKS • Section 3.2.1.5, “Visual Quality and Aesthetics” • No trails would be removed in the Eden Prairie seg- Appendix J, “Visual Resources” ment, and there would be no long-term change in trail connectivity. Several trails and sidewalks would be ROADWAY AND TRAFFIC reconstructed. The trail connection to Purgatory Creek Eight new at-grade crossings of light rail tracks would Park would be maintained, and a new sidewalk/trail cause traffic delays at roadways or private driveways. During the morning peak traffic period, one intersection

GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS 7 in the segment would not meet Level of Service (LOS) off-street parking spaces that serve businesses would be standards without mitigation; during the evening peak displaced. traffic period, three intersections would not meet LOS • standards without mitigation. Several existing roadways Section 3.2.4.3, “Parking” would be modified, and a new roadway would be con- structed west from Eden Road to a cul-de-sac. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMPLIANCE The Council completed an Environmental Justice • Section 3.2.4.2, “Roadway and Traffic Operations” assessment for the Eden Prairie segment. No dispro- portionately high and adverse impacts on minority or PARKING low-income populations were found. Thirty on-street parking spaces would be added along • a new street segment, and approximately 250 private Section 3.2.5, “Environmental Justice Compliance”

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY

The proposed Operations and Maintenance sites, concluded with the selection of the proposed Hopkins site. Facility (OMF) would be located in Hopkins, southwest of the intersection of 5th Street South Approximately 160 jobs for light rail transit staff would and 15th Avenue South. be located at the Operations and Maintenance Facility. No freight rail lines, parks or bicycle/pedestrian facilities The proposed OMF site (shown on the next page) con- would be affected in the area. sists of approximately 15 acres of land that is currently occupied by private businesses. The facility would be used for light maintenance activities, cleaning and stor- LAND USE, ACQUISITIONS AND DISPLACEMENTS age of light rail vehicles, and would also house offices The Project is compatible with land use plans adopted for administrative staff. by Hopkins and with existing land use in the area. Ap- proximately 18.2 acres would be converted to public Section 2.3.2 of the Supplemental Draft EIS discusses transportation related use, including the acquisition the range of potential OMF sites that were evaluated of eight full parcels and a portion of one parcel. Up to and the process used to select the proposed site. The five businesses may be required to relocate. Property selection process involved four steps: acquisition would reduce the city’s annual property tax revenues by approximately $99,200. Construction may • In the first step, a preliminary site evaluation nar- cause temporary changes to property access. rowed the number of potential sites from 30 (includ- ing the four sites evaluated in the Draft EIS) to 18. • Section 3.3.1.1, “Land Use” • The second step used a detailed assessment a to • Section 3.3.1.2, “Acquisitions and Displacements” narrow the field from 18 to seven potential sites. • The third step included an operational analysis, as WATER RESOURCES well as input from the public and local jurisdictions, Approximately 0.7 acres of wetlands would be perma- which were used to narrow the choices from seven to nently filled, and 0.6 acres of fill would be placed within two potential sites. a floodplain. The Council would develop a Compensa- tory Mitigation Plan to address wetlands and floodplain • Finally, a detailed technical assessment, as well as loss. public and jurisdictional review of the two remaining • Section 3.3.2.2, “Water Resources”

8 GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS Proposed Layout of the Operations and Maintenance Facility

GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS 9 HAZARDOUS AND CONTAMINATED MATERIALS ROADWAY AND TRAFFIC Four sites of concern have been identified: two within Sixteenth Avenue South between 5th and 6th Streets the OMF site and two adjacent to the site. The Project would be removed to accommodate the OMF. One new will investigate further to determine whether remedia- at-grade light rail road crossing would be added; this tion is necessary. Cleanup of contamination would begin track would be used by light rail vehicles that are not in before construction or when construction starts. service and not carrying passengers.

• Section 3.3.2.3, “Hazardous and Contaminated Ma- • Section 3.3.4.1, “Roadway and Traffic” terials” • Section 3.3.2.1, “Geology and Groundwater” PARKING A total of 43 on-street parking spaces would be re- moved in the OMF area. The potential full acquisition of four properties would displace 310 off-street parking spaces. During construction, parking on 15th Avenue would be temporarily displaced.

• Section 3.3.4.2, “Parking”

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMPLIANCE The Council completed an Environmental Justice as- sessment for the proposed OMF. No disproportionately high and adverse impacts on minority or low-income populations were found.

Technicians service the electrical components on the roof of • Section 3.3.5, “Environmental Justice Compliance” a light rail vehicle at the METRO Blue Line operations and maintenance facility.

ST. LOUIS PARK AND MINNEAPOLIS SEGMENT

The St. Louis Park/Minneapolis Segment is Section 2.3.3 of the Supplemental Draft EIS summa- a portion of the proposed LRT route that is rizes the design adjustments that were evaluated in this segment, and describes how these adjustments were generally between Louisiana Avenue in St. Louis evaluated. Park and Penn Avenue in Minneapolis.

The proposed design adjustments continue freight FREIGHT RAIL AND KENILWORTH LIGHT RAIL rail operations through the St. Louis Park/Minneapolis TUNNEL segment. Light rail trains would run in a tunnel through The process of developing design adjustments for the a portion of this segment to allow enough space for St. Louis Park and Minneapolis segment focused on the freight rail and trails to remain on the surface. question of whether the project should include:

The Supplemental Draft EIS analyzes three major design • the relocation of freight trains currently operating adjustments in this segment: keeping existing freight along the freight tracks and in the rail service in the Kenilworth Corridor; constructing Kenilworth Corridor to other freight tracks, or a light rail tunnel south of the Kenilworth Channel in • the continued operation of freight trains along the Minneapolis; and changing the location and capacity of Bass Lake Spur and Kenilworth Corridor. proposed park-and-ride lots.

10 GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS LEGEND East Limit Dunwoody Blvd City Boundary Existing Freight Rail Penn Station

Parklands, Recreation Wayzata SubdivisionL (BNSF) AL TRAI AKE REGION Areas, Open Spaces AR L CED ORTH Proposed Southwest LRT N W Franklin Ave Proposed LRT Tunnel t W 21st S Proposed LRT Station 21st21st Street Street Proposed Roadway, Cedar StationStation Lake Bicycle/Pedestrian, and Lake Burnha Parking Modifications m RL d Forest I A Hennepin Ave R T Proposed LRT H T At-Grade Crossing R W 26th St LRT Tunnel O W Lake IL N Proposed LRT Grade- E of the K Separated Crossing Cedar Lake Pkwy Isles

Victoria S Ave Ottawa Lake Proposed Freight Rail W 28th St Connection )

MN&S Spur (CP) A R Existing Trail R Minnetonka Blvd C (H r Bass Lake Spur W Lake St o id Minneapolis (CP)/Kenilworth Corridor rr S Ave Hennepin o West Lake

Chowen Ave S Ave Chowen (HCRRA) Boundary C S Ave Abbott rth Station Kenilwo St. Louis Park/Minneapolis Segment Limits Cross Section Location Wooddale Ave S Beltline Lousiana Ave S Station (P&R) (P&R) Park-and-Ride Lot Lake

Calhoun France Ave S Ave France

CEDAR LAKE LRT REGIONAL TRAIL

W 36th St Hwy Kings Wooddale BeltlineMonterey Blvd Dr W 36th St

Station r Excelsior Blvd t Park C

West Limit W 38th St Louisiana Proposed Freight Rail Station (P&R) (Southerly Connection) I

0 1,325 2,640 Excelsior Blvd Feet Bass LakeM Spur (CP) inneh Blake aha Cree k Station The St. Louis Park/Minneapolis Segment

Above: The St. Louis Park/Minneapolis segment evaluated in the Supplemental Draft EIS. Right: Cross-sectional view of the proposed Kenilworth Corridor light rail tunnel, near the southern end of the tunnel.

Both relocation and co-location options for freight rail were revised during the design adjustment process to address comments on the Draft EIS.

Comments on the Draft EIS indicated that the design for freight rail relocation presented in the Draft EIS needed to be revised in order to meet the operational The design for co-location of freight rail and light rail and safety requirements of freight rail operators. Project was also revised to avoid or minimize the adverse effects staff found that the necessary revisions would produce identified in the original design. The largest change was additional adverse impacts not included in the Draft EIS, the addition of a light rail tunnel south of the Kenilworth such as: acquiring additional land, including residential Channel. The design adjustment does not displace any properties; affecting the Park Spanish Immersion School residents or businesses in the Kenilworth Corridor area in St. Louis Park; displacing more wetlands; and con- and preserves wetlands that would be displaced by structing tall berms and other freight rail structures near freight rail relocation. St. Louis Park High School and residences.

GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS 11 During the design adjustment process, which began The design adjustments studied in the Supplemental after the publication of the Draft EIS, Project staff devel- Draft EIS include several modifications to the existing oped and evaluated several alternatives for both freight freight rail alignment in order to accommodate light rail rail relocation and co-location. The Metropolitan Coun- in the Kenilworth Corridor: cil also hired independent consultants to conduct an • engineering analysis of the various freight rail relocation The freight rail tracks would be shifted north approxi- options and to evaluate the potential impacts of a light mately 45 feet from near Excelsior Boulevard to near rail tunnel on water resources (groundwater and lakes) in Beltline Boulevard. This would put the freight rail the Kenilworth Corridor area. tracks north of the new light rail line. • Where the MN&S Spur freight rail tracks cross over The proposed LRT tunnel would allow light rail, freight the Bass Lake Spur freight rail tracks, a portion of the rail and pedestrian/bicycle trails to pass through a sec- Skunk Hollow switching wye would be removed (a tion of the proposed alignment that is not wide enough wye is a set of freight rail tracks that resembles a let- to accommodate all of them side by side. The LRT tun- ter “Y” lying on its side, used to switch freight trains nel would be located approximately between West Lake between different tracks). The switching wye would Street and the south side of the channel that connects be replaced with a new “Southerly Connection” Cedar Lake to Lake of the Isles (the Kenilworth Chan- between the two freight lines. nel). The Project proposes to construct this tunnel by • The freight rail tracks between Beltline Boulevard “cut-and-cover” – digging a trench, building the tunnel and Cedar Lake Parkway would be reconstructed, within it, and then covering the trench. The area above with relatively minor adjustments. the tunnel would be landscaped and replanted with • The freight rail tracks between Cedar Lake Parkway appropriate vegetation. Light rail trains would cross the and the Burnham Road overpass would be shifted Kenilworth Channel on a bridge and operate at ground approximately 40 feet north. level north of the Channel.

Realigned freight rail tracks and Southerly Connection

LRT crosses over Excelsior Blvd. and freight tracks Skunk Hollow switching wye removed; LEGEND on bridge; freight rail shifts north of LRT tracks. Southerly Connection for freight rail added.

Existing Freight Rail Proposed Southwest LRT Proposed Freight Rail (Southerly Connection) 7 Adjusted Freight Rail MN&S Spur (CP) Existing Trail Proposed LRT Station Blake Rd

Louisiana Station

( Louisiana Ave 169 (Park & Ride) 0 900 1,800

Feet Excelsior Blvd

Blake Station (Park & Ride) Blake Station Bass Lake Spur (CP) (Park & Ride)

Freight rail track in St. Louis Park would be shifted north of the light rail tracks near Excelsior Boulevard. A new connection between the Bass Lake Spur and the MN&S Spur Downtown would be added near Louisiana Station, replacing a portion of the existing switching wye. Hopkins Station Downtown Hopkins Station

12 GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS The Kenilworth Channel and Lagoon

Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act: A federal law that protects publicly owned parks, recreation areas, and historic sites. This evaluation is presented separately in Section 3.5 of the Supple- mental Draft EIS.

Visual and Aesthetic Impacts: The Supplemental Draft EIS evaluates impacts on viewpoints around the Kenilworth Lagoon and Channel.

The Supplemental Draft EIS identifies several impacts around the Kenilworth Channel, including: replace- The Kenilworth Channel and Lagoon connect Cedar ment of the existing bridges; partial removal and Lake and Lake of the Isles. A pair of existing freight alteration of the retaining walls, constructed by the and trail bridges, shown above, would be replaced by Works Projects Administration, along the Channel; new bridges carrying light rail, freight rail and trails. and removal of vegetation and portions of the Chan- nel banks. Mitigation of these impacts would be Impacts around the Kenilworth Channel are evaluated included in an agreement as required by Section 106 in the Supplemental Draft EIS under several headings, of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. including:

Cultural Resources: The Kenilworth Channel is lo- cated within the Grand Rounds Historic District, and is eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. (Section 3.4.1.3)

The Council found that, compared to the other alterna- Section 3.4.1.3 of the Supplemental Draft EIS describes tives considered, keeping freight rail in the Kenilworth the historic districts and properties located near the Corridor and constructing a tunnel for light rail south of proposed LRT alignment. the Kenilworth Channel provided the best balance of costs, benefits and environmental impacts. The Council The Kenilworth Channel and Kenilworth Lagoon con- adopted this design alternative as part of the project’s nect Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles, and are within the scope and budget in April and July 2014. Grand Rounds Historic District. The Channel is currently crossed by a pair of timber bridges carrying freight rail • Section 2.3.3.2, “Design Adjustments Considered in tracks and a bicycle/pedestrian trail. These bridges the St. Louis Park/Minneapolis Segment “ would be replaced by new bridges carrying light rail in • Section 3.4.3, “Economic Effects” addition to freight rail and the trail. • Section 3.4.4.4, “Freight Rail” A preliminary determination of an adverse effect was CULTURAL RESOURCES made for two resources, the Grand Rounds Historic The Southwest LRT alignment passes through several District and the Kenilworth Lagoon. historic districts in the St. Louis Park and Minneapolis • segment. Section 3.4.1.3, “Cultural Resources” • Section 3.5, “Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation Update”

GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS 13 PARKLANDS, RECREATION AREAS AND OPEN Some seepage of groundwater into the tunnel could SPACES occur over time. Any water that enters the tunnel would Parks, recreation areas and open spaces in the St. Louis be treated, if necessary, and pumped to the adjacent Park and Minneapolis segment include the Kenilworth sanitary sewer system. The tunnel is not expected to Channel/Lagoon, Lake of the Isles Park, Cedar Lake have any effect on lake levels. Park, Bryn Mawr Meadows and several smaller parks. Multiple trails are located in the vicinity of the proposed Approximately one-half acre of wetlands would be per- LRT alignment. manently filled, and some temporary filling of wetlands would occur during construction. The Council would As a result of design changes proposed since the publi- develop a Compensatory Mitigation Plan to address cation of the Draft EIS, no existing parkland, recreation wetland loss. area or open space property would be permanently acquired. Existing railroad and trail bridges crossing the Ken­ ilworth Lagoon would be replaced with new light rail, • Section 3.4.1.4, “Parklands, Recreation Areas and freight rail and trail bridges. Open Spaces” • Section 3.5, “Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation Update” • Section 3.4.2.2, “Water Resources”

WATER RESOURCES HAZARDOUS AND CONTAMINATED MATERIALS The proposed Kenilworth LRT tunnel would be a shallow The Kenilworth LRT tunnel would be constructed to re- tunnel; however, it would extend into the groundwater sist water infiltration. However, if contaminated ground- table between Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles. The water does seep into the tunnel, it would have to be tunnel would be designed as a closed, waterproof sys- treated and removed. Six potentially contaminated sites tem to prevent groundwater from entering the tunnel. have been identified that could affect the Project during construction. Cleanup of contamination would begin before construction or when construction starts.

Project staff will prepare a Groundwater Management Plan before beginning construction. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District will review and approve the plan.

• Section 3.4.2.1, “Geology and Groundwater” • Section 3.4.2.5, “Hazardous and Contaminated Ma- terials”

LAND USE, ACQUISITIONS AND DISPLACEMENTS The Project is compatible with land use plans adopted by both cities and with existing land use in the area. Approximately 33.6 acres would be converted to public transportation related use in this segment, including the acquisition of 23 full parcels and portions of 29 others. This total includes full parcels and portions of parcels. Up to eight businesses may be required to relocate. Private property acquisition would reduce St. Louis Park A technician inserts a ground water level indicator at annual property tax revenues by approximately $36,000. one of several monitoring stations in the Kenilworth area.

14 GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS Construction may cause temporary changes to property access.

• Section 3.4.1.1, “Land Use” • Section 3.4.1.2, “Acquisitions and Displacements” • Section 3.4.3, “Economic Effects”

TRAILS AND SIDEWALKS No trails would be removed in the St. Louis Park/Min- neapolis segment, and there would be no long-term change in trail connectivity. There would be no long- term effects on the or the Kenilworth Trail within the segment. Changes in trail alignments would be made where the trails cross light rail tracks. Trails and freight rail tracks in the Kenilworth area of During construction, temporary trail detours would be Minneapolis. required. Plans for the Southwest LRT project include a variety of safety and access improvement for bicycles and pedestrians around the West Lake, 21st Street and The plan will include, as appropriate, recommendations Penn LRT stations. for additional noise monitoring, evaluation of various measures, and identification of committed noise mitiga- • Section 3.4.1.4, “Parklands, Recreation Areas and tion measures. Open Spaces” • Section 3.4.4.5, “Bicycle and Pedestrian” The proposed design of the Southwest LRT line will result in 67 moderate noise impacts and three severe VISUAL QUALITY AND AESTHETICS noise impacts for residential uses in the St. Louis Park The Supplemental Draft EIS analyzes visual impacts at and Minneapolis segment. Residential areas that would six key viewpoints within the St. Louis Park and Min- experience noise impacts include: Railroad Avenue east neapolis segment using the Federal Highway Admin- of the proposed Louisiana Station; the Hoigaard Village istration (FHWA) process for assessing visual impacts. apartment complex on Camerata Way west of Highway The Southwest LRT Project would have a “substantial” 100; Burnham Road North to the west of the proposed overall level of impact on three viewpoints and a “not alignment; Thomas Avenue South to the east of the pro- substantial” level of impact at three viewpoints. posed alignment; and South Upton Avenue to the west of the proposed alignment. A moderate non-residential Mitigation measures for substantial adverse impacts re- noise impact would occur at the Kenilworth Channel. sulting from the light rail elements will be identified dur- ing advanced engineering and could include measures A vibration study did not identify any vibration impacts such as landscaping, visual treatments and continuity in the St. Louis Park and Minneapolis segment. with the elevated light rail structure design, lighting, and signage. The Supplemental Draft EIS also evaluates the potential impact of ground-borne noise, which is noise gener- • Section 3.4.1.5, “Visual Quality and Aesthetics” ated by the vibration of a structure’s walls and ceilings. • Appendix J, “Visual Resources” Without mitigation, 54 ground-borne noise impacts would occur in the St. Louis Park and Minneapolis NOISE AND VIBRATION segment, including 36 residential units in the Calhoun Some businesses and residences will experience noise Isles Condominiums. Other areas likely to experience impacts. The Council would develop a noise mitigation ground-borne noise impacts are: St. Louis Avenue west plan to address long-term and short-term (construction) noise impacts, and document this plan in the Final EIS.

GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS 15 of the alignment; Dean Court, Xerxes Avenue South and Benton Boulevard east of the alignment.

• Section 3.4.2.3, “Noise” • Section 3.4.2.4, “Vibration”

ROADWAY AND TRAFFIC Three new at-grade crossings of light rail tracks would cause traffic delays at roadways in the St. Louis Park and Minneapolis segment. Existing roadways would be reconstructed or reconfigured at seven locations.

• Section 3.4.4.2, “Roadway and Traffic”

PARKING A total of 118 on-street parking spaces would be dis- placed at five locations in this segment. The full acqui- sition of 10 properties would displace 297 off-street parking spaces.

• Section 3.4.4.3, “Parking”

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMPLIANCE The Council completed an environmental justice assess- ment for the St. Louis Park and Minneapolis segment. No disproportionately high adverse impacts on minority or low-income populations were found.

• Section 3.4.5, “Environmental Justice Compliance”

Alternative Formats

To request documents in an alternative format, or if you need assistance to access the documents, please contact:

Dan Pfeiffer Southwest LRT Assistant Public Involvement Manager 612-373-3897 [email protected]

16 GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS COMMENTING ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS

Comments on the Supplemental Draft EIS will be Eden Prairie Public Library, 565 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 accepted through July 21, 2015. Comments may Edina City Hall, 4801 West 50th Street, Edina, MN be submitted by email, mail, or in person. 55424 Franklin Public Library, 1314 East Franklin Avenue, Public hearings and open houses on the Supplemental Minneapolis, MN 55404 Draft EIS will be held in June 2015. To learn more about the hearings, see “Hearings on the Supplemental Draft Hopkins City Hall, 1010 First Street South, Hopkins, EIS” on page 19. MN 55343 Hopkins Public Library, 22 Eleventh Avenue North, Following the close of the comment period, the Federal Hopkins, MN 55343 Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan Coun- cil will consider all comments submitted and will provide Linden Hills Public Library, 2900 West 43rd Street, responses to substantive comments in the Final EIS. Minneapolis, MN 55410 Metropolitan Council Library, 390 Robert Street North, St. Paul, MN 55101 WAYS TO COMMENT Minneapolis City Hall, City Engineer’s Office, 350 South Public hearings Fifth Street, Room 203, Minneapolis, MN 55415 Hearings will include opportunities for public testimony. Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Comment forms for submitting written comments will Minneapolis, MN 55401 also be available. Minnetonka City Hall, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55345 By email Send written comments by email to: Minnetonka Public Library, 17524 Excelsior Blvd., [email protected] Minnetonka, MN 55345 MnDOT Transportation Library, 395 John Ireland Blvd., By mail St. Paul, MN 55155 Send written comments by mail to: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Of- Nani Jacobson fice Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Assistant Director, Environmental and Agreements St. Paul, MN 55155 Metro Transit – Southwest LRT Project Office Southwest LRT Project Office, 6465 Wayzata Blvd., 6465 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 500 Suite 500 St. Louis Park, MN 55426 St. Louis Park, MN 55426 St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416 REVIEWING THE SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS St. Louis Park Public Library, 3240 Library Lane St. Louis Park, MN 55426 The Supplemental Draft EIS and appendices are avail- Sumner Public Library, 611 Van White Memorial Blvd., able from the Southwest LRT Project website at Minneapolis, MN 55411 www.swlrt.org. Printed copies are available for review at several locations: Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55408 Eden Prairie City Hall, 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS 17 HEARINGS ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS

The Metropolitan Council will hold three public HOPKINS hearings on the Supplemental Draft EIS. An open house will be held in conjunction with each public Tuesday, June 16, 2015 Hopkins Center for the Arts hearing. 1111 Mainstreet The purpose of these hearings is to provide an oppor- Hopkins tunity for the public to comment on the content of the Supplemental Draft EIS document; no action will be Open House: 5:00 p.m. taken at the hearings. Public Hearing: 6:00 p.m.

Translation services for non-English speakers and ADA accommodations will be provided on request. To request translation or ADA accommodations, please EDEN PRAIRIE contact Dan Pfeiffer, Southwest LRT Assistant Public Involvement Manager, at 612-373-3897 or Wednesday, June 17, 2015 [email protected] at least five days prior Eden Prairie City Center to the hearing. 8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie

Open House: 5:00 p.m. Public Hearing: 6:00 p.m.

MINNEAPOLIS Thursday, June 18, 2015 Dunwoody College of Technology 818 Dunwoody Boulevard Minneapolis

Open House: 5:00 p.m. Public Hearing: 6:00 p.m.

18 GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS LOCALLY REQUESTED CAPITAL INVESTMENTS

The cities along the Southwest LRT route and LRT project. These proposed activities may be implemented independently by the stakeholder cities at Hennepin County have identified improvements a future date, and are not conditions of the Southwest they propose to be undertaken separate from, LRT project. but contingent upon, implementation of the The items currently proposed are not anticipated to project. result in significant adverse impacts.

Each of these proposed Locally Requested Capital Proposed investments include: Investments (LRCIs) that advance through the city • Local Roadway Improvements and county decision making processes will undergo environmental review and impact evaluation, with • Streetscape, Landscape and Aesthetic Improvements results reported in the Final EIS. If a LRCI included in • Local Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements the Supplemental Draft EIS does not move forward • Utility Activities following further coordination with the cities and Hennepin County, it will not be evaluated as part of the • Guideway Profile Adjustment Final EIS. More information about Locally Requested Capital These proposed activities are not needed to support the Improvements is included in Section 2.6 and Appendix F base function of the Southwest LRT project, nor do they of the Supplemental Draft EIS. represent mitigation for any impact of the Southwest

Community Outreach Coordinators The Southwest LRT Community Outreach MINNEAPOLIS Coordinators are the first point of contact for Sophia Ginis 612.373.3895 members of the public, community organizations [email protected] and corridor businesses. They are available to answer questions, receive input on the project, and help ST. LOUIS PARK AND HOPKINS resolve issues. Nkongo Cigolo 612.373.3825 [email protected] Each of the Project’s Community Outreach Coordinators is responsible for a segment of the MINNETONKA AND EDEN PRAIRIE Southwest LRT route. James Mockovciak 612.373.3894 [email protected]

GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWEST LRT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS 19 Southwest LRT Project Office 6465 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 500 St. Louis Park, MN 55426

Phone: 612.373.3800 Fax: 612.373.3899

email: [email protected] www.swlrt.org

Metro Transit is a service of the Metropolitan Council.

The Metropolitan Council 390 Robert Street North St. Paul, MN 55101

Phone: 651.602.1000 TTY: 651.291.0904

email: [email protected] www.metrotransit.org